Arn the Steward stared at his master with a puzzled face."You will get a dusty welcome," he said."There is but the Lady Hilda at Galland, and her brother Aelward is still at odds with your Duke."Nevertheless Jehan rode out in a clear dawn of St.Luke's summer, leaving a wondering man behind him, and he rode alone, having sent back his men-at-arms to Ivo."He has the bold heart," said Arn to himself."If there be many French like him there will assuredly be a new England."At Galland, which is low down in the fen country, he found a sullen girl.
She met him at the bridge of the Galland fen and her grey eyes flashed fire.She was a tall maid, very fair to look upon, and the blue tunic which she wore over her russet gown was cunningly embroidered.Embroidered too with gold was the hood which confined her plaited yellow hair.
"You find a defenceless house and a woman to conquer," she railed.
"Long may it need no other warder," said Jehan, dismounting and looking at her across the water.
"The fortune of war has given me a home, mistress.I would dwell in amity with my neighbours.""Amity!" she cried in scorn."You will get none from me.My brother Aelward will do the parleying.""So be it," he said."Be assured I will never cross this water into Galland till you bid me."He turned and rode home, and for a month was busied with the work of his farms.When he came again it was on a dark day in November, and every runnel of the fens was swollen.He got the same answer from the girl, and with it a warning "Aelward and his men wait for you in the oakshaw," she told him."I sent word to them when the thralls brought news of you." And her pretty face was hard and angry.
Jehan laughed."Now, by your leave, mistress, I will wait here the hour or two till nightfall.I am Englishman enough to know that your folk do not strike in the dark."He returned to Highstead unscathed, and a week later came a message from Aelward."Meet me," it ran, "to-morrow by the Danes' barrow at noon, and we will know whether Englishman or Frenchman is to bear rule in this land."Jehan donned his hauberk and girt himself with his long sword."There will be hot work to-day in that forest," he told Arn, who was busied with the trussing of his mail.
"God prosper you, master," said the steward."Frenchman or no, you are such a man as I love.Beware of Aelward and his downward stroke, for he has the strength of ten."At noon by the Danes' barrow Jehan met a young tow-headed giant, who spoke with the back of his throat and made surly-response to the other's greeting.It was a blue winter's day, with rime still white on the grass, and the forest was very still.The Saxon had the shorter sword and a round buckler; Jehan fought only with his blade.
At the first bout they strove with steel, and were ill-matched at that, for the heavy strength of the fenman was futile against the lithe speed of the hunter.Jehan ringed him in circles of light, and the famous downward stroke was expended on vacant air.He played with him till he breathed heavily like a cow, and then by a sleight of hand sent his sword spinning among the oak mast.The young giant stood sulkily before him, unarmed, deeply shamed, waiting on his death, but with no fear in his eyes.
Jehan tossed his own blade to the ground, and stripped off his hauberk."We have fought with weapons," he said, "now we will fight in the ancient way."There followed a very different contest.Aelward lost his shamefastness and his slow blood fired as flesh met flesh and sinew strained against sinew.
His great arms crushed the Frenchman till the ribs cracked, but always the other slipped through and evaded the fatal hug.And as the struggle continued Aelward's heart warmed to his enemy.When their swords crossed he had hated him like death; now he seemed to be striving with a kinsman.
Suddenly, when victory looked very near, he found the earth moving from beneath him, and a mountain descended on his skull.When he blinked himself into consciousness again, Jehan was laving his head from a pool in an oak-root.
"I will teach you that throw some -day, friend," he was saying."Had I not known the trick of it, you had mauled me sadly.I had liefer grapple with a bear.
Aelward moistened his lips."You have beat me fairly, armed and weaponless," he said, and his voice had no anger in it.
"Talk not of beating between neighbours," was the answer."We have played together and I have had the luck of it.It will be your turn to break my head to-morrow.""Head matters little," grumbled Aelward."Mine has stood harder dints.But you have broken my leg, and that means a month of housekeeping."Jehan made splints of ash for the leg, and set him upon his horse, and in this wise they came to the bridge of Galland fen.On the far side of the water stood the Lady Hilda.He halted and waited on her bidding.She gazed speechless at the horse whereon sat her brother with a clouted scalp.
"What ails you, Frenchman?" said Aelward."It is but a half-grown girl of my father's begetting.""I have vowed not to pass that bridge till yonder lady bids me.""Then for the pity of Christ bid him, sister.He and I are warm with play and yearn for a flagon."In this manner did Jehan first enter the house of Galland, whence in the next cowslip-time he carried a bride to Highstead.
The months passed smoothly in the house on the knoll above the fat fen pastures.Jehan forsook his woodcraft for the work of byre and furrow and sheepfold, and the yield of his lands grew under his wardenship.He brought heavy French cattle to improve the little native breed, and made a garden of fruit trees where once had been only bent and sedge.The thralls wrought cheerfully for him, for he was a kindly master, and the freemen of the manor had no complaint against one who did impartial justice and respected their slow and ancient ways.As for skill in hunting, there was no fellow to the lord of Highstead between Trent and Thames.
